Hey all, long time listener, first time caller...have had a 13' tinny for something like 20 years, beat to hell when I got it, does and did get the job done, but a bit small for island camping with the GF, and gear. Also wanted to play in bigger water and the wee boat was not going to cut it in my eyes. Still, it has a place, so decided to keep it. Bought a new Yammy 9.9 when opportunity knocked last summer, so now I had a 50-year old boat, and 1-year old motor...I carry the boat on a contractor rack on the truck when we pull our little camper, and I have what was probably once a holsclaw trailer if I need it.
I also felt comfortable enough at the time to look for something larger; already knew I would be into a floor and probably a transom at my budget limit, and I gleefully stared into online ads, looking for said larger. Looked at a 16' SS, needed the floor and transom, price was very right, but the deal-killer was the no tilt on the 70 Evinrude; made it to my mid-50s with an intact back, and want to keep it that way. Search continued. Started keeping tabs on an 18' SS a few hours away, some new bits, butterscotch yellow, 85 merc, and the transom had been done. Would have preferred an OMC motor, but I get what I get. Almost couldn't pull the trigger, but the stars realigned and I gambled, buying sight unseen based on the photos in the ad. Grabbed a buddy and headed to Belleville (I'm in Ottawa) to tow 'er back.
Made it 45 minutes out of Belleville and stopped to check the bearings. Well, one grease cap had left, resulting in the bearings devouring themselves. Got really lucky as my buddy happened to have RV coverage on his CAA. Boat and trailer got flat-decked home. First expense, put on a new axle. The Merc of course has the disintegrating insulation on the wiring, there were 4 5mph-rated pedestals, LED lights, old Hummingbird FF and a Flasher, no front cover, a full top that more or less fits, and a Dole hand-raulic tilt setup. Motor comes up as a 77, no distributor, and the date on the starter is Nov '76. Had an OMC kicker at one time, just the control box left.
Boat was originally sold in Iowa, brought up here in 2000, and played with a bit, but mostly original in the interior. The back two portions of the floor had been replaced with 3/4 ply, carpet cut around the consoles and some weird wood to transition from 3/4 to the original 1/2 in the floor. Came with a trolling motor (1996 auto-pilot, no pedal), two anchors, new battery, and a kicker plate. Kicker plate was a must, as the GF didn't like trusting in old outboards (she was the driving force behind the Yammy).
The plan was to take it out once as is (meaning something on the floor in the bow to keep my foot from falling through again.) This did not materialize, but I was able to fire it on muffs with stabilized fuel and at least run it out of gas. Fast forward to March this year, and I'm stuck working at home instead of at work...started disassembly, and have gotten to the point where I'm down to floor from the fuel tank to the bow. Floor should come out intact enough for patterns. Big-ass fuel tank is to come out as soon as I can dispose of the fuel while being socially distant. Bilge pump looks janky, but works. Have a new one and will run both.
My lead question is about the floor. Decided to go 3/4" on the floor, but putting the bow back together would put the side brackets 1/4" lower than the V-brace in the center...how did those who went thicker deal with this? Add a spacer to the wood? Spacer to the brace? If it was addressed, I must have skimmed past it. Have Gluvit for when the floor is out, looking at East Systems for floor epoxy, and I'd like to find some sort of rubber floor that's easier on the knees than marine vinyl.
Hopefully this isn't too much of a dump, been reading as many SS threads as I can, some more than once; no way mine will be as pretty as most, but time, and money will tell...
I also felt comfortable enough at the time to look for something larger; already knew I would be into a floor and probably a transom at my budget limit, and I gleefully stared into online ads, looking for said larger. Looked at a 16' SS, needed the floor and transom, price was very right, but the deal-killer was the no tilt on the 70 Evinrude; made it to my mid-50s with an intact back, and want to keep it that way. Search continued. Started keeping tabs on an 18' SS a few hours away, some new bits, butterscotch yellow, 85 merc, and the transom had been done. Would have preferred an OMC motor, but I get what I get. Almost couldn't pull the trigger, but the stars realigned and I gambled, buying sight unseen based on the photos in the ad. Grabbed a buddy and headed to Belleville (I'm in Ottawa) to tow 'er back.
Made it 45 minutes out of Belleville and stopped to check the bearings. Well, one grease cap had left, resulting in the bearings devouring themselves. Got really lucky as my buddy happened to have RV coverage on his CAA. Boat and trailer got flat-decked home. First expense, put on a new axle. The Merc of course has the disintegrating insulation on the wiring, there were 4 5mph-rated pedestals, LED lights, old Hummingbird FF and a Flasher, no front cover, a full top that more or less fits, and a Dole hand-raulic tilt setup. Motor comes up as a 77, no distributor, and the date on the starter is Nov '76. Had an OMC kicker at one time, just the control box left.
Boat was originally sold in Iowa, brought up here in 2000, and played with a bit, but mostly original in the interior. The back two portions of the floor had been replaced with 3/4 ply, carpet cut around the consoles and some weird wood to transition from 3/4 to the original 1/2 in the floor. Came with a trolling motor (1996 auto-pilot, no pedal), two anchors, new battery, and a kicker plate. Kicker plate was a must, as the GF didn't like trusting in old outboards (she was the driving force behind the Yammy).
The plan was to take it out once as is (meaning something on the floor in the bow to keep my foot from falling through again.) This did not materialize, but I was able to fire it on muffs with stabilized fuel and at least run it out of gas. Fast forward to March this year, and I'm stuck working at home instead of at work...started disassembly, and have gotten to the point where I'm down to floor from the fuel tank to the bow. Floor should come out intact enough for patterns. Big-ass fuel tank is to come out as soon as I can dispose of the fuel while being socially distant. Bilge pump looks janky, but works. Have a new one and will run both.
My lead question is about the floor. Decided to go 3/4" on the floor, but putting the bow back together would put the side brackets 1/4" lower than the V-brace in the center...how did those who went thicker deal with this? Add a spacer to the wood? Spacer to the brace? If it was addressed, I must have skimmed past it. Have Gluvit for when the floor is out, looking at East Systems for floor epoxy, and I'd like to find some sort of rubber floor that's easier on the knees than marine vinyl.
Hopefully this isn't too much of a dump, been reading as many SS threads as I can, some more than once; no way mine will be as pretty as most, but time, and money will tell...
